The 18th Annual Champions of Hope was a very special night. Not only was it a celebration of the accomplishments of Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS) but it also allowed us to pay tribute to our very own retiring Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tracey Skale (see photos from the event below).
The room at the Madison Event Center was full of old and new friends, clients of Dr. Skale, and GCBHS staff. The event was hosted by WKRC Breaking News and Traffic Anchor Jen Dalton, who is also the co-host for ARC Cincinnati which airs at 8 am on STAR 64. This was not Jen’s first time at the Champions of Hope podium, and we were thrilled that she was able to help us give Dr. Skale a proper send-off!
The evening was a tremendous success, due partly to the incredible support of this year's event sponsors (see a complete list HERE) and a much sought after Bengals helmet signed by none other than Cincinnati’s favorite quarterback, Joe Burrow!
One of the highlights of the evening’s program was the tribute to Dr. Skale. GCBHS President & CEO Jeff O’Neil, who has known Dr. Skale for over 30 years, gave a heartfelt and touching speech which highlighted how beloved she is by her patients and staff. He also thoughtfully described her typical workday to those in attendance, which included “eating cold soup right out of the can” because she did
not have time to take a lunch break.
A huge surprise for Tracey was that Jeff Oak, the father of a former patient, traveled all the way from New York to be with her on this special night. He shared the amazing story of how her kindness and compassion along with the entire GCBHS team made such a huge difference in his son’s life.
Throughout the night several people referenced a plaque Dr. Skale kept on her desk for many years. It simply said, “Never, never, never, give up.” In a video tribute, many of her patients and their families mentioned that one of Tracey's amazing qualities is that she never gives up on people. Along with her tremendous heart, her dedication has been instrumental in their road to recovery.
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